BATON ROUGE (May 26, 2010) - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced the re-opening to recreational and commercial fishing activities in inside waters west of the eastern shore of Bayou Grand Caillou in Terrebonne Parish effective 6 pm, May 26, 2010. A precautionary closure of this area was issued May 22 due to increasing number of documented reports of oil east of this area. To date, no oil has been documented in this area.

Effective with this action, all state inside waters from the eastern shore of Bayou Grand Caillou westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line are open to recreational and commercial fishing.

Precautionary closures of recreational and commercial fishing have been implemented based on the best information the Secretary of the Department receives from field biologists, staff and trajectory models from NOAA.

Once reports of oil are received, LDWF initiates a field survey and immediate seafood testing in the suspected areas. Closures are subsequently made with the intent to be as safe as possible, while not closing any fishing areas unnecessarily. As test results come back clearing the area, effected waters are then reopened.

LDWF continues to work closely with DHH in an effort to assess all opportunities to resume normal fishing activities on Louisiana's coast and guarantee the safety of Louisiana's seafood.